Flames go back to the future in search of offense

Flames go back to the future in search of offenseCalgary GM Darryl Sutter went back to the future in his season for more offense, bringing back Olli Jokinen and Alex Tanguay.

After failing to qualify for the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 10th-place finish in the West, Calgary Flames GM Darryl Sutter was driven to give his team a different look this summer.

But one has to wonder if Sutter was driving a DeLorean.

In search of more offense, Sutter decided to bring both Olli Jokinen and Alex Tanguay to Calgary. Jokinen, who started last season with the Flames before being traded to the New York Rangers on Jan. 31, signed a two-year deal on July 1. Although Jokinen struggled in his first stint in Calgary -- he had just 35 points in 56 games with the Flames last season -- Sutter is confident things will be different this time around, especially with the addition of Tanguay.

FLAMES 2010-2011 SEASON PREVIEW

BUTTON'S BREAKDOWN:

It was a tale of two seasons for the Flames in 2009-10. A superb first half (24-12-5), when they were considered serious Stanley Cup contenders, followed by a dismal second half (16-20-5) when the roster was overhauled with the aim of adding more scoring; the scoring actually declined, and they failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2003.

Wither the Flames? Not so fast.

Miikka Kiprusoff is arguably the best goaltender in the NHL. Simply, he gives the Flames a chance to win each and every game he starts. The incomparable Jarome Iginla had a down year by his standards, but remains a formidable challenge for opponents to shut down and is their unquestioned leader. Jay Bouwmeester is still a very good defenseman who can impact the game with his skating. The Flames have a blend of skill and physical presence in their defense group and do not give up many scoring chances.

While many have been left scratching their heads wondering how GM Darryl Sutter could bring back Olli Jokinen and Alex Tanguay, they are but two players in a bigger picture. The fortunes of the Flames do not lie solely in those two players, but in a collective forward group that needs to generate more scoring chances and pressure on their opponents. They were 29th in goal scoring last season and averaged a dismal 2.2 goals per game in the second half.

The Flames will be hard-pressed to qualify for the playoffs if that trend carries through to this season. If they do improve their scoring, they will be a dangerous team come the playoffs.

Former Calgary Flames' GM Craig Button is an analyst for the NHL Network.

"I think when we traded him, we said that if we could get him at a number that worked for us, we'd pursue it again," Sutter said. "It wasn't just Olli. It was Olli and Tangs that was important. After discussing it with the players, Jarome (Iginla) and Olli, what they felt they missed was the playmaker with them and certainly Tanguay is capable of that."

Tanguay struggled last season, too. The 30-year-old tallied only 10 goals in 80 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning and has produced only 78 points in the last two seasons. However, Tanguay did average a point per game for the Flames in 2006-07 and has scored 20 or more goals five times in his career.

"I feel like I have some unfinished business in Calgary," Tanguay said. "I am very excited. It's a great opportunity. When I sat down at the end of the season, where I saw myself fit on a team, Calgary was at the top of the list."

Even though they scored the fewest goals in the League last season (204), the Flames still possess one of the best forwards in the game in captain Jarome Iginla. The 33-year-old has enjoyed nine consecutive 30-goal seasons and also brings a ton of grit. But Iginla can't do it alone.

Joining Iginla, Jokinen and Tanguay are Niklas Hagman and Matt Stajan -- who were acquired in the deal that sent Dion Phaneuf to Toronto. Both are set to enter their first full seasons in Calgary. The pair combined to score 44 goals last season and will be heavily relied upon to produce again. Let's also not forget Rene Bourque, who hit career highs in goals (27), assists (31) and points (58) last season.

Stajan will battle with Daymond Langkow for the No. 2 center spot. Langkow, who is still recovering from a slap shot that struck his neck on March 21, saw his production drop for a second straight season in 2009-10. He had just 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists) in 72 games. Langkow wasn't the only Flames' forward to have an off-year, though; David Moss went from 20 goals in 2008-09 to just 8 last season.

Mikael Backlund also will be given every opportunity to make the club. The Flames' 2007 first-round draft choice (No. 24) split last season between Calgary and AHL Abbotsford. In 23 games with the Flames, the Swedish center had a goal and 9 assists. Also in the mix are 39-year-old Craig Conroy -- who is nine games away from 1,000 in his career -- as well as Ales Kotalik and Ryan Stone, who appeared in 27 games for Edmonton last season.

THREE REASONS FOR OPTIMISM

* As long as Miikka Kiprusoff is healthy, the Flames enter every game with a chance to win. Kiprusoff, who turns 34 on Oct. 26, enters this season with 239 victories and a career goals-against average of 2.44. A model of durability, Kiprusoff hasn't appeared in fewer than 73 games in a season since becoming Calgary's No. 1 goaltender in 2005.

* With the additions of Olli Jokinen and Alex Tanguay, the Flames now have more balance up front and have taken some pressure off captain Jarome Iginla. Tanguay struggled with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season, with only 10 goals in 80 games, but he thrived during his first stint in Calgary. He averaged a point per game for the Flames in 2006-07, when he had 22 goals and 59 assists.

Without a doubt, the Flames are looking for more from No. 1 defenseman Jay Bouwmeester this season after the 26-year-old had just 29 points (3 goals, 26 assists) in his first campaign in Calgary.

So is Bouwmeester.

"Lots of up and downs," he told the Calgary Herald. "It's a lot like our team. For a lot of guys, there were times when it was good and things were going well. And there were a lot of times where it was a struggle to get things going. Why? I don't really know."

Bouwmeester will be joined on the blue line by Robyn Regehr. The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder had 17 points and 80 penalty minutes in 81 games for Calgary last season and provides an imposing presence on the blue line.

Ian White, who was also part of the blockbuster deal with Toronto last season, will likely be on the Flames' second pairing alongside Mark Giordano. Just 26, White had 12 points in 27 games after the trade. Giordano, meanwhile, is coming off a breakout season that saw him appear in every game and tally 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists).

Rounding out Calgary's defense are Corey Sarich, Steve Staios, Adam Pardy and Stefan Kronwall. All will likely receive their share of playing time.

The 33-year-old was the last one to blame for the Flames missing the playoffs last season, as he went 35-28-10 with a 2.31 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. The 73 appearances he made were the fewest since 2003-04, when he posted a 1.70 GAA in 38 contests. As long as he stays healthy, Calgary has a chance. It's that simple.

Kiprusoff will likely be backed up by Henrik Karlsson. Although he's yet to play in the NHL, the 6-foot-5 Swede, acquired from San Jose during the summer, had a 2.45 GAA and three shutouts in 34 games for Farjestads in the Swedish Elite League last season.
Follow Brian Compton on Twitter: @BComptonNHL

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I don't have a crystal ball. Predicting is a real complicated thing. If we stay healthy, have enough depth and get the good goaltending we think we're going to have, you can go all the way. But a lot of things have to happen. There's going to be a lot of teams that think the same thing. Everyone made deals. We're all are optimistic about where we'll end up.

— Rangers general manager Glen Sather after being asked if he's constructed a team that can win the Stanley Cup before their 4-1 win against the Predators on Monday